Chief sports columnist and associate editor with The Age

James Pattinson is well set to play in the first Ashes Test at Trent Bridge. Photo: Reuters

If we shut our eyes, put our fingers in our ears, and hum loudly to ourselves, the India series eventually will go away. Immediately, there is no other viable tactic. In Indian conditions, Ponting-less, Hussey-less Australia is hopelessly outclassed. Any claim to the contrary can only be, well (say it softly), spin.

While our eyes are closed, and unspeakable indignities pile up, we must think of England. And England, and England. Beyond India, and after a little busking in the IPL, Australia faces 10 Tests in a row against an England team with its act comparatively together. Here's a doomsday scenario, presently plausible: Australia heads into Boxing Day this year trailing England 8-0.

It won't happen. For one thing, at least one of the Tests in England will be rain-affected, and probably the Gabba Test at the start of next summer, too (blessed be climate change). Besides, Australia cannot be so feeble in England as it hitherto has been in India. But the Indian losses must be cut immediately, and the planning begin now. Here's a positive spin: of the Hyderabad XI, only Michael Clarke and James Pattinson are guaranteed to play in the first Test at Trent Bridge, so the selectors have plenty of scope.

Firstly, Australia must purge itself of its all-rounder obsession. Too often, it seems to think it is picking two players in one, only to find it has neither. Glenn Maxwell, at this stage in his career, is a mistake. Moreover, it is a mistake that could have been made and learnt from in the last Test of last summer, against already beaten Sri Lanka.

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Moises Henriques is an earnest cricketer, but bowls at 120km/h. Either he justifies his place as a batsman, or he does not play at all.

Ditto especially, dare it be said, for Shane Watson. In 39 Tests spread over eight years, he has averaged 36 with the bat, and presently is not bowling. In sum, he is unfulfilled as a batsman and, because of frequent injuries, unreliable as a bowler. His watershed is upon him.

Despite Clarke-proofing, the batting is fragile. Dave Warner is a gamebreaker, but sometimes lacks discernment. Too many sweaty hours of close-up observation of India's batsmen might help. Ed Cowan is the sort of batsman for whom Test cricket never will be a sinecure; periodically, he will need to reapply for his place, filling in the form with runs. Right now, he is doing his performance review.

Phil Hughes keeps cutting at India's spinners, undermining his claim to have adapted his game to Test cricket. Somewhere in England, Jimmy Anderson is chanting: ''Cut me, cut me.''

Still, even with fingers withdrawn from ears, it is hard to hear much door-knocking from without. Shaun Marsh should be fit again by England and Usman Khawaja averages 29, but without a lucky break. George Bailey, Joe Burns and Alex Doolan are the forefront of the uncapped. If Watson is timed out, awaiting is Mitch Marsh, still raw at 21, but authentically an all-rounder.

Wicketkeeper Matt Wade is gallant, but will be acutely conscious that the selectors really wanted Tim Paine, now fully convalesced. Wade's batting and keeping are of a type: determined. It might not be enough.

Nathan Lyon, frankly, has been mismanaged. On tours, variously, he has been coached by Ricky Ponting and Steve Rixon, but no spinner. He struggled in Chennai, but afterwards should have been supported, not blamed. He set out in Test cricket with an admirably girded temperament, but it is showing signs of a battering. He has just turned 25.

By England, leg-spinning minstrel Fawad Ahmed might be available. His selection would not be automatic - flat-bouncing English wickets will not necessarily suit him - but he would give Australia options.

Predictably, India is proving a wasteland for Australia's seamers. Against England, Pattinson, touch wood, will be the cornerstone, to be joined by whichever two of Peter Siddle, Mitch Starc, Mitch Johnson, Jackson Bird and perhaps even Pat Cummins are swinging the ball.

The Australian team in Hyderabad looked as if it was announced half-way through the selection meeting, before all the magnets were back in place. It exacerbated an already abiding sense that this is a makeshift team, being picked by selectorial stream of consciousness, subject to embargo.

If for no other reason than to distract the bewildered from the gore of India, here's a possible team for Trent Bridge: Warner, S Marsh, Burns, Clarke (c), Khawaja, Watson, Wade, Starc, Pattinson, Siddle, Ahmed.

70 comments

I thought it was a very good article. Not much in there about spinners though save for some boosting of Lyon. If not Lyon, who else? Ahmed maybe but there appears to be paperwork and I am not sure it will be approved because of wider implications for other refugees. Making a special case out of him may be a problem. Maybe Chris Rogers or Peter Forrest may also come into calculations. Forrest has a good technique and Rogers is solid. I think the suggestion of Mitch Marsh is good but I didnt see any mention of Haddin who is a good batsman. His form for NSW has been pretty good. Also no mention of Hilfenhaus who also should revel in English conditions. But the words about Cowan and Watson I agree with. Hughes deserves another chance. Warner for my money is not a test cricketer. He has no shot selection. He reminds me of Graeme Wood a little. Gets out in annoying ways at inconvenient times but when he is on top of his game, he looks good. The Big Bash splitting the Shield season in two I think deserves mention as a major problem. Two other names - Cutting and Kane Richardson.

Commenter

w ch

Date and time

March 04, 2013, 6:11PM

Please Greg we show no respect to the Indians constantly talking about England. It undermines an already fragile international test circuit. We are still so Anglo centric. The power in the game has shifted. Did we really go to India to prepare for England? Of course not. How must they feel when such an important series is treated with such disrespect? The game of test cricket will die a slow and inevitable death if we insist on such a myopic view.

Commenter

Andy

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

March 04, 2013, 11:06PM

I agree with the above comment. Australia are struggling against quality bowling and batting and not spin. Don't forget they lost against South Africa against quality seamers. Greg do yourself a favour and stick to the real facts. Australia cannot win against quality opposition

Commenter

johnny

Date and time

March 05, 2013, 8:32AM

With respect, I think you're reading into Greg Baum's article what you want to see so you can strut out the righteous indignation, Andy. Test cricket people don't worry about one another's feelings - Indian fans aren't going to be hurt, they're going to be proud of their boys and the pain they're heaping on Australia and its fans.

If you watch how India are wiping the floor with Australia, you will see that we have to think about the ten Ashes Tests because there's little hope in India. Our current bowlers can't get twenty wickets. No chance. It's a laconic Australian show of respect that India in India has snapped back to being the final frontier again. Read between the lines: India in India are great, and they've got frontiers all over the world that their team - given a pace star or two - clearly can conquer.

Commenter

B

Date and time

March 05, 2013, 10:41AM

Lets face it, quality young batsman are just not coming through the domestic ranks, and we need to lose the all rounder obsession until someone actually deserves their place.

Commenter

OldmanWyatt

Date and time

March 05, 2013, 11:47AM

Andy, Johnny, He was just making a light hearted quip that this series is over already and if they don't start thingking about the next ones soon they will be over before they start. What people can see racism in these days is staggering.

Ahmed has walked into every team he has played for in this country from Hoppers Crossing up, can't see why Australia should be any different.

Commenter

Craig

Location

Collingwood

Date and time

March 05, 2013, 3:08PM

Starc can't swing the ball when half rat power Indian bowlers can. But how did they pick a spinner with a first class average of 44 for this test? Beggars belief.

Commenter

Rob

Location

Canberra

Date and time

March 04, 2013, 6:13PM

We all bemoan the fact that Ponting has gone, but weren't you self-same reporters the ones demanding his axing as he wasn't averaging 50 anymore?

The simple fact is, that an aging Ponting averaging in the 30's provides so much more in experience and leadership (and worrying fielding) to the team than Khawaja or Moises or Hughes or even dare say it Watson averaging in the 30's.

Commenter

Don't get it

Location

Aus

Date and time

March 04, 2013, 6:15PM

It is looking unwise to have bumped Ponting now, true... I guess everyone just assumed someone would step up with a good run of Tests. The Sri Lanka stuff probably made some of the batsmen look better than they are. Khawaja needs to get another go, but I really do wish we had another viable option. He's flattered to deceive on the big stage, but obviously has talent. But then, a lot of Shield players have talent and I'm not advocating giving them chances on that alone.

Commenter

BBB

Date and time

March 05, 2013, 1:34PM

Also no mention was made of Jackson Bird. I would think he would do well in England. A bit controversial but I am in favour of a 47 man Ashes squad going over to England. There is plenty of money from the Big Bash which damages our test cricket in so many ways, so lets use the money it makes to take over 47 to England. While giving us plenty of selection options a 47 man squad will also help the English economy which is struggling as much as our bowlers are at the moment. 47 will also take the pressure of our hapless selectors. No need for agonising decisions with a 47 man squad and less likelihood of criticism for leaving this player out or that player out.